About me
Welcome to my profile, I am a professionally qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with over 7 years experience working with adults and young people in the charitable sector and in private practice. Choosing to engage in counselling or psychotherapy can be a daunting prospect, my aim is to make you feel at ease by using a non-judgmental and empathetic approach in a safe and confidential space.
How can therapy help you?
Clients come to me for help with all sorts of issues. Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and we don't know where to start to help ourselves feel better. I help clients make sense of what they are experiencing and we work together to find ways for them to feel happier in themselves, improve their mental health, heal and recover from emotional distress, and manage issues as they move forward with their lives. Counselling and psychotherapy can facilitate genuine changes in your life in many different ways including:
- Your relationship with yourself and others can improve.
- You can develop greater understanding of yourself and what you need and want from life.
- You can safely explore and process emotional distress, experiences and issues that affect your life.
- You can develop personal insights that lead to improved well-being.
My qualifications and training are predominantly in person-centred psychotherapy but I have additional training in several therapy modalities including GSRD (gender, sexuality and relationship diversities) therapy, humanistic and mindfulness approaches, and CBT. I describe myself as an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, adapting my approach based on the needs of the client. I do not believe in a ‘one size fits all’ approach to therapy. I have worked with a diverse range of clients and recognise the needs of each client are unique. I became a therapist after experiencing the therapy process for myself. My perspective on therapy is based on personal experience as well as my training. I'm not a 'blank screen therapist', I bring who I am to sessions including the occasional swear. I describe myself as down-to-earth, respectful, non-judgmental, authentic, and compassionate. I have experience supporting clients with a range of issues including abuse, anxiety, depression, identity, sexuality, trauma, gender, relationship problems, stress, low self-confidence, and bereavement; helping them to develop self-acceptance and the ability to overcome their issues.
Research tells us that one of the the most important aspects of therapy, leading to successful client outcomes, is the therapeutic relationship. It is so important to find the right therapist for you, someone you feel you can connect with in the therapy process. That is why I offer an initial phone consultation so you have the opportunity to chat with me and see if we might be a good fit. The therapeutic relationship can help you to explore your thoughts and feelings and develop new perspectives and insights. As a result, the relationship with yourself and others can become more authentic and enjoyable. Developing understanding and acceptance can lead to healing and recovery from emotional distress and experiences that have impacted your life.
It's OK to ask for help - it's not weakness, it takes courage to reach out to someone for help.
Your problems are not silly or unimportant and you are not wasting anyone's time - your distress is valid. We all struggle at times with all sorts of issues and you deserve to be heard and supported no matter what the issues are.
GSRD & LGBTQ+ Counselling
From my own experience, I know that it can be difficult to find a GSRD affirmative therapist. My practice embraces and celebrates diversity. I believe that receiving acceptance and understanding from another can help to combat shame and distress. I am passionate about supporting and improving the wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community, which is why I chose to specialise in gender, sexuality and relationship diversity. I identify as a bisexual cis-woman and know how important community can be for supporting GSRD/LGBTQIA+ folk.
In a culture that promotes heteronormative, cisgender and monogamous ways of being I passionately believe in supporting and empowering gender, sexuality, and relationship diverse people. I have a comprehensive understanding of diverse practices and identities. I am BDSM and kink knowledgeable, working with awareness of the dynamics of diverse relationships. I am wholeheartedly committed to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and empowering GSRD clients to be their authentic selves through non-judgmental, affirming and client led therapy.
For in person clients, my comfortable therapy room is in a quiet location on the Isle of Wight. I also provide online or phone sessions for clients throughout the UK. Counselling and psychotherapy sessions are available Monday to Friday throughout the day and early evening.
A free (optional) initial phone consultation is available to talk about what has brought you to therapy and answer any questions you may have. You might have something specific you wish to work on, or it may be more abstract. It's also OK if you do not have any goal in mind or don't know what you would like to achieve. We will focus on whatever feels helpful for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BA (Hons) in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy - Middlesex University (BACP Accredited Degree)
- Diploma of Higher Education (Open) including Understanding Counselling and Psychotherapy: exploring fear and sadness - Death and Dying - Challenging Ideas in Mental Health - Investigating Psychology - Science of the Mind - Open University
- Bereavement Support Certificate - Cruse Bereavement Care
- Certified Cyber Therapist - Online Therapy Institute
Pink Therapy Training - Continuing Professional Development courses:
Bisexuality in GSRD Therapy - Coming Out - Dimensions of Sexuality - Faith, Religion & Spirituality - Gender Identities - Intimate Partner Violence & Minority Stress - Parenting outside heteronormativity - Shame & Internalised Oppression - Substance Use & Misuse - Understanding Kink/BDSM - Intersectionality
Other Continuing Professional Development courses:
Understanding Trauma - Keeping Children Safe Online - Working Together to Safeguard Children - Existential Contributions to Counselling and Psychotherapy
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
- Free initial telephone consultation - 30 minutes
- In person, online and telephone counselling sessions - 50 minutes
To confirm the booking of a first session I ask for payment of the fee by bank transfer at least 48 hours prior to the session. Subsequent in person sessions can be paid for in advance by bank transfer or at the time of the session by debit/credit card or cash.
Online and telephone sessions - payment in advance by bank transfer.
You can contact me through this page or via my website labirintocounselling.co.uk, by email - labirintocounselling@gmail.com or by phone - 07849 486828. Please note that email responses sometimes are directed to spam/junk so please check these folders if you have not received a reply from myself. I aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours.
When I work
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Further information
- Professional Liabilities Insurance.
- Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I adhere to the ethical framework of this membership body.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate.
- I attend regular supervision with a qualified counselling supervisor to ensure I am working ethically and in the best interests of my clients.
- To keep training and knowledge current I undertake regular continuing professional development courses.
